Ralph Bernard

Ralph Bernard is Chairman of the British Lung Foundation in addition to a number of activities for not-for-profit organisations. He is also Chairman of the Central School of Ballet and Chairman of Classic FM.

His media career has spanned over 30 years beginning as a newspaper journalist before moving into commercial radio. He was responsible for the first merger in commercial radio which ultimately created GWR Group, Britain’s largest radio group until 2008 and Classic FM, Britain’s most successful commercial radio station, was formed from an idea forged by Ralph in 1991. He led the GWR Group for over 25 years, stepping down as Chief Executive in 2008. In the 2002 Jubilee Honours Ralph received a CBE for services to broadcasting.

Ralph is married with four daughters. He regularly runs marathons and is a keen five-a-side footballer – in quieter moments he collects copies of Wisden, the cricketing yearbook.

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